Juncker Ends Balkans Tour With Support, But No Accession Date

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (center) with Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci (left) and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Sofia on March 1.

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Juncker Ends Balkans Tour With Support, But No Accession Date

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has wrapped up his tour of the Western Balkans, urging the leaders of the six countries he visited to speed up the pace of reforms.

"These countries have the will to implement reforms necessary for EU membership," Juncker told the leaders gathered in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, on March 1.

The meeting, hosted by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, whose country presently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union, followed the publication of the EU strategy on how to bring the region closer to the bloc.

Juncker has visited Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Kosovo, to relay the message that the six countries need deep reforms in order to fulfill the criteria for eventual membership in the bloc.

Juncker also highlighted as a top priority the need to boost the rule of law, as well as the settling of major bilateral issues.

With additional reporting by dpa, AP, Reuters, and AFP

RFE/RL's Balkan Service promotes the values of democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression in a region where genuine media freedom remains elusive and where many media outlets remain divided along ethnic lines.